Swinerton welcomes Dandurand as civic, arts & culture market leader in the Northeast

Manhattan, NY Derek Dandurand joins Swinerton as civic, arts & culture market leader for its Northeast operations. Bringing more than 15 years of experience across construction, public agencies, historic preservation and capital project delivery, Dandurand will help grow the company’s work with civic institutions, cultural organizations, educational clients and public agencies throughout the region.

A carpenter by trade with a master’s degree in historic preservation, Dandurand brings a perspective shaped by both hands-on construction experience and a lifelong interest in the built environment. His expertise spans public and civic projects, procurement, regulatory processes, preconstruction, client management, and the modernization and adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

In his new role, Dandurand will lead project teams through preconstruction and execution, helping clients navigate budgeting, constructability, procurement strategy, stakeholder coordination and project risk from early planning through completion. His background is particularly suited to projects involving existing and historic facilities, where teams must balance a building’s character and original purpose with evolving accessibility, resiliency, operational and community needs.

Dandurand’s interest in preservation began while growing up in a historic farmhouse in Rhode Island. Discovering a Civil War-era belt buckle in the backyard prompted him to research the history of the house and sparked a lasting curiosity about historic buildings, eventually leading him to pursue historic preservation professionally.

"What draws me to civic, arts and cultural work is the sense of purpose behind it,” said Dandurand. “These institutions strengthen communities, preserve our history, and create places where people come together. As builders,  our role is to listen, understand the mission behind each project and help our clients translate that vision into spaces that will serve their communities for generations. That sense of stewardship and public purpose is a big part of what attracted me to Swinerton.”

“Derek brings a valuable combination of field experience, preservation expertise and an understanding of how public projects get done,” said Jay Quackenbush, Swinerton’s New York division manager. “His ability to see a project from both the builder’s and the client’s perspectives strengthens our team as we grow in this market across the Northeast. Just as importantly, he understands the responsibility that comes with working on buildings and spaces that have a meaningful connection to the communities they serve.”

The appointment strengthens Swinerton’s Northeast team with dedicated leadership for projects where public service, preservation and construction intersect. Dandurand will focus on building relationships with clients and project partners while helping institutions navigate the complexities of renovating, modernizing and reimagining spaces for the next generation of use.